they should come to an agreement where his salary will be the same as last year, but half of it has to be donated to the nelson mandela foundation...as a way to inspire the next generation of hockey players of course.

_______________Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best.

They would;t do something which is so blatantly illegal or in practice a waste of time for all parties involved so I'll take their word over yours. Unless you're a sports lawyer, I doubt your information is more accurate than theirs.

So apparently if the team elects for arbitration they can go a minimum of 85% of the previous year's salary, which is a 15% paycut and what they offered. If the gave him a qualifying offer as an RFA, they would have had to offer at least 105% of his salary so $3.57M. They chose door #1 I guess to try and save some money, we'll see if that works.

Either way I bet they settle before the arbitrator makes his decision on a mid term (3-4 years maybe?) deal in the $4.5M-$4.75M range. If they let the arbitrator decide it will only be a 1 year deal and he is a UFA next year, so if the Leafs have him in their plans they won't want that to happen. Now the fact that they didn't submit a qualifying offer could counter that though, and maybe he isn't necessarily in the plans. We'll see.

Also interesting is when the team triggers arbitration they can't walk away from the decision. Had Bernier initiated this the Leafs could have said no thanks if the arbitrator decided Bernier is worth $$$.

I'm looking for a rebound year from Bernier-still think he will be a good NHL goalie.

_______________In their efforts to regulate beer quality, the ancient Babylonians, who were among history's earliest brewers, decreed that any commercial beermaker who sold unfit beer would be drowned in their own libation.

Bernier is only 26 Bobcat99, you don't think he will fit in the Leafs long term plans if he has a good year as you say?

_______________In their efforts to regulate beer quality, the ancient Babylonians, who were among history's earliest brewers, decreed that any commercial beermaker who sold unfit beer would be drowned in their own libation.

Bernier is only 26 SweetiePieGumdrop, you don't think he will fit in the Leafs long term plans if he has a good year as you say?

Trade him for draft picks or younger goalies. Timing is everything. If the Leafs are trying to win in 3-5 years. They need a goalie at his prime in 3-5 years. It could be Bernier, it could be someone who hasn't been drafted yet.